Method and apparatus for the production of underground pipelines

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for producing an underground pipeline from an excavated hole uses a drill head with a suitable tool attached thereto. Loosened soil is transported out of the drilled tunnel with a transportation drum containing an internal spiral. The drum is supported by a roll devices fixed to outer pipes. Rotating movement is transmitted to the rotating drill head from the transportation drum which is driven by a motor. Cylinders push the whole system and force is transmitted by the outer pipes to the drill head. Guiding of the drill head is accomplished with fluid actuators. Attachment and removal of the drill tool is accomplished through a free hole in the transportation drum and a central hole in the drill head, and the free hole and central hole also allow observation of the drill tool and tunnel face during drilling.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for theproduction of tunnels for underground pipelines without moving soilabove the pipeline. Soil or rocks means to be removed are loosened bysome known method. Loosened material is removed from the tunnel by arotating transportation drum rotating on rolls inside the pipe meant tobe assembled into the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Building of underground pipelines can be done according to severaldifferent principals. The most simple way is to dig ground away in theplace where the pipeline is planned to be and to lay down pipes in theexcavation and refill the excavation. However this can not always bedone with open excavation, for instance because of roads or lakes. Inthese cases one must use some kind of underground method.

In case of small diameter pipes and short distances, soil displacingmethods can be used in which the pipe is pressed in the desireddirection by a force strong enough to move the pipe. In the end of thepipe there is placed a formed point which displaces the soil as much asthe pipe requires. An apparatus based on such displacement of soil ispresented in patent document FI-51726. While it is relatively easy tomake small holes by this method, in case of larger diameter holes,friction against displacement becomes so strong that energy sourcesavailable to be used in this purpose, can not produce the force needed,or use of them is uneconomical. Because of this, in case of largerdiameter holes, one has to use mechanical hammers or cutters.

In production of larger diameter holes, loosened soil must be removedfrom the hole. For instance in patent document FI-51726 there is shown amethod to remove broken soil from the hole through the pipe bypressurized air.

In other earlier known method for removal of loosened soil is forinstance a transportation screw assembled in the pipe following thedrill head, as is shown for instance in German patent document DE 33 06047. In the system described in this document, a drill head is assembledin the supporting pipe which contains a transportation screw. Thediameter of this screw is such that its outer diameter is nearly equalto inner diameter of supporting pipe. In this construction, thetransportation screw is moving in relation to supporting pipe.

In German patent document DE 32 28 684 there is shown a construction inwhich the transportation screw is located in the supporting pipe whosediameter is essentially smaller than diameter of the pipe to beassembled. In this case, location or direction determination of drillhead can be executed through an upper area of the pipe, which isremaining free.

As defects of present methods one can mention that visual observation ofdrill head is limited. Also, reparation requires a drawing out of thedrill head, which operation in many cases is difficult and takes a longtime.

Also as a defect can be mentioned that the construction of thetransportation screw limits the diameter of rocks able to be transportedthrough the screw. Also, emptying of a clogged transportation screw isdifficult, because construction of the screw is closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the apparatus and method according this invention one can make aremarkable improvement in said defects. Characteristics of the apparatusand method according this invention are presented hereinafter.

As the most significant benefit of this invention one can mention thatthe drill head can easily be observed and there is a spacious and smallfractioned way to transport the loosened soil. Also, because of thelarge diameter transportation pipe, it is possible to transmit a largetorsional moment to the drill head. While the free center of thetransportation pipe is large, one can also transport through the drumfor instance tools, etc. This is good when, after drilling with only thedrill head in soft soil, one meets rock. Then one has to transport ahammering tool to drill head and assemble it. Also whole rocks withdiameters almost the same as the drum can be transported through thetransportation drum. While drilling it is possible to observe the end ofthe tunnel and the quality of the ground can be seen and examinedthrough the pipe. Further, tools can be reassembled and removed the sameway, and in some cases that free hold is large enough for man to gothrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be examined more closely referringto drawings enclosed.

FIG. 1 shows a radial section along the line 1--1 in FIG. 2 of atransportation drum and protective pipe.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the drill head and transportationdrum.

FIG. 3 shows a drill head with a rotating cutting head.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the device located in a starting hole.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the device located in the starting hole.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative way to fix the cutter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 is shown schematically transportation drum (1) which isrotating on rolls (14) of supporting roll device (13), which rolldevices are fixed in assembled pipe (8). Hydraulic cylinders (9) guidinga drill head get their pressure through hoses (15), which are ledthrough a lower part of piper (8). Roll device (13) can be fixed in pipe(8).

In FIG. 2 is shown the head of the device which is going into theground. Soil or rock hammering tools (17, 36) are fixed in rotatingconical part (3) with fixtures (33) (34) and screws (45,46). Thesehammering tools can slide in parts (16), in case one wants to move thesetools in with cylinders (10) or (35). Thus, the hammering tools can moveagainst force caused by pressurized material in cylinders (10,35).Entering into rock is most suitably done when one tool (36) is drillinga large diameter hole in the center of the tunnel and another tool (17)is drilling a circle in an outer part of the hole. Supporting rolls (11)give axial support. Rolls (11) are supported by flange (6), which can beadjusted to a desired direction in relation to cylindrical part (7) byhydraulic cylinder (9). The cylinders (9) have been jointed with parts(43,44). Adjustment of the direction penetration is done with cylinder(9) by turning flange (6) to a desired direction. Supporting rolls (12)are fixed in cylinder part (4), which rolls are turning in relation tocylinder part (7) while the head part is turned. Flange (6) is fastenedto cylinder part (5), which can slide and when needed turn in relationto cylinder part (7). Hydraulic cylinders (9) are fastened at one end tocylinder part (7) and at the other end to guiding cylinder part (5) andto flange (6). Rotating movement of head (3) is caused by inner pipe (1)which is jointed to head (3) in case of small internal differences indirection. Inner pipe (1) has internal spiral (2), which is transportingfrom the ground loosened material (19) to the back of the device. Energythat each hammering tool (17,36) needs is delivered through pneumatichose (18), which is located in on a back side of spiral (2) where it isprotected against abrasive effect of the soil. Pneumatic air is also ledto cylinders (10) and (35), which are moving tools (17),(36). Outer pipe(8) is most usually concrete and it is left in the tunnel. Motion andforce needed by head (3) is transmitted with outer pipe l(8). Thesemotions and forces variate according to the quality of the ground.

In FIG. 3, is shown head (3) of the device penetrating into the ground.Rotating cutters (20) and (21) are jointed in heads rotating conicalpart (3) with bearings, and these cutters rotate around a shaft of thetheir own because of rotating movement of conical part (3) and becauseof their own angular position.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown a back part of a starting hole. In the holethere is frame construction (23) over which new outer pipe (8) parts andinner pipe (1) parts are lifted while head (3) of the device is enteringand push cylinders (28) have pushed earlier pipe parts into the hole.Push cylinders are supported with plates (31) and (32) to back wall ofthe starting hole. Cylinders (28) are to the frame construction withparts (29) that cylinders (28) are able to slide on parts (29)backwards, in case soil in the back wall of the starting hole is movingbecause of push the force. Thus, frame construction (23) can stay in itsoriginal position and thus is desirable because the exact startingdirection of the tunnel has been adjusted with frame construction (23).Cylinders (28) are pushing outer pipe (8) with special flange (24) withthe help of adapters (30). In the flange (24) there is rotatable coggedpart (26), which is rotated with motor (27) and cogwheel (25). Rotatingcogged part (26) is quick-jointed with some known method to that theadjacent inner pipe l(1), which is in turn to be pushed. Every innerpipe is tied to the next one by the known quick-joint method, forinstance with chain, so that rotating movement is transmitted to headpart (3). Transporting spiral (2) transports loosened soil to startinghole, from which the soil can be ejected. During the whole workingperiod, the filling rate of the spiral is low so that continuous drillhead observation is possible.

In FIG. 6 is shown cutting tool (38) which is fastened in drill head(3). Cutting tool (38) contains cutting head (39) and cylinder (37) ableto push to one direction and retreat to an other direction. Tool (38) isfastened with screws (42) in holes (41) in crosswise bar (40) jointed todrill head (3). Tool (38) can cut especially in rock different diameterring shape cuttings. It is possible to have several tools jointed in bar(40). It can also be possible to choose the diameter to be cut as theposition of tool (38) in bar (40) can be adjusted by moving tools in bar(40) for instance with hydraulic or pneumatic pressure.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described indetail herein, various modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A method for producing an underground pipeline from anexcavated hole comprising the steps of:assembling in the excavated holea longitudinal pipeline of outer pipes by successively adding a newouter pipe in the excavated hole to a preceding outer pipe to form thepipeline; mounting a transportation drum longitudinally in the outerpipes from an end one of the outer pipes in the excavated hole to aleading one of the outer pipes in a drilled tunnel, said mounting stepincluding the step of fixing on an inner surface of each outer pipe in aroll mechanism including rollers on which the transportation drum isthereby rotatably mounted relative tot he pipeline; providing aninternal spiral along an internal wall of the transportation drum andalong an otherwise unobstructed passage in the transportation drum sothat a longitudinal free hole in the middle of the transportation drumis provided which free hole has a diameter between the spiral of atleast 40% of an inner diameter of the outer pipes; attaching a drillhead to an end of the transportation drum extending beyond the leadingone of the outer pipes in the tunnel for rotation with thetransportation drum and with a portion of the drill head bearinglongitudinally against the leading outer pipe, the drill head includinga central longitudinal hole therethrough in communication with the freehole of the transportation drum; transporting a drilling tool to thedrill head through the free hole and the central hole and attaching ofthe drilling tool to the drill head; rotating o the transportation drumsuch that the drill head and drilling tool are rotated; drilling of aface of the tunnel by advancing of the pipeline in the tunnel as thetransportation drum is rotated such that soil and rock is drilled whenthe drilling tool is in engagement with the face o the tunnel and thedrilled soil and rock is thereby moved through the central hole to thetransportation drum and then by the rotating of the spiral in thetransportation drum to an end of said transportation drum in theexcavated hole; observing of the drill head and face through the freehole and the central hole to determine if replacement of the drillingtool through the free hole and central hole and transporting of a newdrilling tool is required; and guiding of the drill head.
 2. A methodfor producing an underground pipeline as claimed in claim 1 wherein aguiding means for guiding of the drill head is provided adjacent thedrill head and power for the guiding means is provided by hoses, andwherein each roll device includes a frame which spans a portion of theinner surface of the outer pipe to form a passageway; and furtherincluding the step of leading the hoses from the guiding means throughthe passageways.
 3. A method for producing an underground pipeline asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the drill head includes a tool mounting barto which the drilling tool is mountable at different radial positions;and further including the step drilling rings of different sizes in theface by mounting of the drilling tool at different radial positions onthe tool mounting bar.
 4. A method for producing an underground pipelineas claimed in claim 1 wherein the drilling tool includes a central toollocated symmetrically about a rotating axis of the drill head and asecond tool located at a distance from the rotating axis; and whereinsaid drilling step includes the steps of cutting a round hole with thecentral of the face tool in a center of the tunnel and a ring with thesecond tool in the face of the tunnel around the center.
 5. A method forproducing an underground pipeline as claimed in claim 1 wherein thedrill head includes a plurality of tools, each of which is movablymounted for movement toward and away from the wall; and furtherincluding the steps of moving the tools toward and away from the face.6. A method for producing an underground pipeline as claimed in claim 1wherein the step of adding a successive new outer pipe to the pipelinein said assembling step includes the steps of a) securing of the newouter pipe to the immediately preceding outer pipe, b) securing a newsection which is equal in length to the new outer pipe to thetransportation drum, and c) locating a new roll device between the newouter pipe and the new section of the transportation drum.
 7. A methodfor producing an underground pipeline as claimed in claim 1 wherein thedrilling tool is additionally power actuated and power for the drillingtool is provided through a hose; and further including the step oflocating the hose along a back side of the internal spiral in thetransportation drum.
 8. A method for producing an underground pipelineas claimed in claim 1 wherein the diameter of the free hole provided inthe transportation drum is at least half of the outer diameter of theprotective pipe.
 9. A system for constructing an underground pipeline ina drilled tunnel from an excavated hole comprising:a plurality ofconnected outer pipes forming said pipeline in the tunnel; atransportation drum located in said pipeline from an end one of theouter pipes in the excavated hole to a leading one of the outer pipes inthe drilled tunnel, said transportation drum being formed of a pluralityof longitudinal drum sections connected together and said transportationdrum having an internal wall, an internal spiral along said internalwall, and a longitudinal free hole in the middle and along the entirelength thereof which has a diameter between said spiral of at least 40%of an inner diameter of the outer pipes; a respective roll mechanismincluding rollers fixed to a lower part of each respective said outerpipe, said roll mechanisms supporting said transportation drum forrotating movement in and relative to said pipeline; a drill headattached to an end of said transportation drum extending beyond saidleading one of said outer pipes in the tunnel for rotation with saidtransportation drum and including a portion bearing longitudinallyagainst said leading outer pipe, a drilling tool attached thereto whichdrills a face of the tunnel, and a central hole in communication withsaid free hole in said transportation drum and sized to permit saiddrilling tool to pass therethrough to said free hole; a guiding meansfor guiding said drill head as the drilled tunnel is formed; a motorwhich rotates said transportation drum and hence said drill head; and anadvancing means for advancing said pipeline longitudinally along thetunnel as said drill head is rotated by said motor and drills thetunnel, said advancing means including a fluid actuator which pushesagainst said pipeline at one end and a side of the excavated hole at theother end to advance said pipeline and a frame in which said fluidactuator is vertically mounted in said excavated hole between saidpipeline and the side of the excavated hole.
 10. A system forconstructing an underground pipeline as claimed in claim 9 wherein saiddrill head includes a tool fixture and an attaching means for attachingsaid drilling tool at selected radial positions relative to the tunnelalong said fixture.
 11. A system for constructing an undergroundpipeline as claimed in claim 9 wherein said drilling tool includes acentral tool located symmetrically about a rotating axis of the drillhead and a second tool located at a distance from the rotating axis suchthat rotation of said drill head causes the cutting of a round hole withsaid central tool in a center of the face of the tunnel and a ring withsaid second tool in the face of the tunnel around the center.
 12. Asystem for constructing an underground pipeline as claimed in claim 9wherein said drill head includes a fixture attached thereto, acooperating fixture slide mounted to said fixture for movement in alongitudinal direction and to which said drilling tool is attached, anda moving means for selectively moving said slide and hence said drillingtool longitudinally toward and away from the face of the tunnel.
 13. Asystem for constructing an underground pipeline as claimed in claim 12wherein said moving means is a fluid actuator and further including afluid hose supplying actuating fluid to said fluid actuator which islocated along a back side of said spiral in said transportation drum.